The articles in this issue of the Russian Social Science Review trace the twenty-first century phenomenon of conservatism as the defining trend in Russia (and not only Russia). First, Aleksandr Repnikov, author of a book on conservative modernization strategies, offers an illuminating historiographical overview of the intellectual and political background of Russia’s conservative movement. In our second selection, philosopher Sergey A. Nikolsky traces what he calls the “constants” of Russian history (empire, autocracy, and property-power) through the country’s cycles of reform and counter-reform, liberalization and authoritarian reaction. Drawing on survey data, our third author, Leontiy G. Byzov, describes (and also challenges) the now prevailing views concerning statism, anti-Westernism, and the “Russian world,” including a more visible and politically influential Russian Orthodox Church. Finally, Pavel A. Kislyakov deplores the results of the “liberal Westernization strategy” in Russian education and explains the role of “retro-innovations” in ensuring the nation’s security by instilling patriotism, citizenship, prosocial behavioral skills, and spiritual and moral qualities in the rising generation.
Russia’s conservative turn is well on the way to being firmly institutionalized. It might even be said that Russia has been in the forefront of a worldwide trend, one that it seeks to advance by fair means and foul. We will give further attention to this subject in future issues.
—P.A.K.